Expandable trailer



y 9, 1959 SUK KUN CHE 2,886,856

' EXPANDABLE TRAILER Filed April 4. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. SUK K UN CHE A TTORNEY May 19, 1959 SUK KUN CHE EXPANDABLE TRAILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 4. 1956 E & 0

N mu K S ATTORNEY floor space or area of the trailer.

2,886,856 EXPANDABLE TRAILER Suk Kun Che, Fort Wayne, Ind. Application April 4, 1956, Serial No. 576,215 1 Claims. c1. 20-2) This invention relates generally toi'a trailer, and it relates more particularly to an expajndableltrailer whereby a greater living or service areania'yfbe obtained by unfolding collapsible sections. 1 j

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a trailer having a central permanent body of a shape and size which will be convenientfor towing behind an automobile and wherein the central, body portion embodies a novel extensible structure which, when the trailer is stationary, may be extended to substantially increase the An important object of the. invention is the provision of a trailer havingmeans for increasing the floor area which is well adapted'for military purposes, such as living quarters, ofiices, or movable hospitals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an expansible trailer having uniguer'otating U-shaped frame members for supporting the expansible sections.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an expansible trailer which may be-ea'sily "folded or collapsed to provide a lightweight; compact and neat appearing structurewhichmay be transported from place to place by means of a conventional automobile.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a trailer which has extensible sections on the sides will be hereinafter described in detail in the specifications, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form m l a o i e pl qat q and.iai i; 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trailer with single expansible sections on each side with parts broken away shown in the folded position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trailer illustrated in Figure l with the sections in the unfolded position with respect to the main body portion.

Figure 3 is a vertical section view of the trailer illustrated in Figure 9 with the sections in the folded position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the trailer with the roof removed illustrating the collapsible partitions.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the trailer illustrated in Figures 9 and with parts removed illustrating the rotating U-shaped frame members.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one of the frame members in Figure 5 illustrating the sliding means.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of United States Patent 0 Figure 6 showing the roller assembly supported on the frame member.

No. 479,755 filed January 4, 1955, now abandoned.

.ceeds, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts'as ,Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the numeral 11 designates the central permanent body portion or section of the trailer which may be constructed of conventional shape and design and provided with a number of recesses, or. compartments 13 and 15 for receiving the extensible sections whenin folded position.

The roof 17 is spaced from the ceiling 19 forming an air or insulating space 20 by one end of the rotating U-shaped frame members 21 which are pivoted about .pins 23. The rotating frame members are comprised of beam 25, studs 27 and sills 29. The other end of the frame members are also pivotally connected by pins 31 which are disposed between the floor 35 and subfioor 37 forming an air or. insulating space 22.

Slightly rearwardly of the longitudinal central portion of the mainbody section'are mounted a pair of wheels 33 which are journalled on a suitable axle 39 which is in turn connected to the main frame 41 in a conventional manner. Slightly forward of the longitudinal central portion of this main body section are mounted a pair of dolly wheels 43 which are journalled on a suitable axle 45 supported by a conventional retractable frame member 47.

The end wall 49 is provided with conventional window frames 51 having window panes 53. When the building is in the expanded position, jacks 55 may be' placed under the building structure, preferably under each rotating frame member. The jacks may be of any suitable construction, preferably of the ltelescoping type, in order that the jacks will be properly positioned. to level the structure. Theextensible floor section 57 is pivotally connected along its inner longitudinal edge'to the main body portion at 59. The extensible roofsection 61 is pivotally connected along its inner longitudinal edge to the main body portion at 63. The

extensible outer sidewall section 65 has the end walls 67 and 69 pivotally connected (not shown) along its vertical edge to the main body portion and are hinged at 71 to the outer sidewall 73. The end walls are hinged or pivotally connected at 75 for a purpose tobe later described. The outer wall is provided with a door 76, for access to the interior of the trailer. I i

As shown in Figures 6 and 7,, the beam. 25 of the U- shaped frame member is constructed from a channel member and is positioned inwardly to form a track 77 for receiving a roller 79 mounted on a pin 81 which is supported by the member 83. A removable stop 85 connected to the member 87 by a screw or pin :89 is provided for maintaining the roller assembly 80 on the track. As shown in Figure 6, the roller assembly is mounted on the outer marginal edge of the roof section at approximately 45 degrees which will permit the roof 61 to lie fiat against the rotating beams when in the extended position as shown by the broken lines.

A track 91 is mounted on the face or upper portion of the sill 29 to receive a conventional roller assembly 93 pivotally connected on the bottom end of the outer wall section 73.

The wall section is provided with recesses 95 adjacent roof and outer wall sections lie'in substantially the edge .to receive afieyn'ble member- 97 serves to hide and conceal the roller assembly.

To place the trailer in operation or service, the rotating beams 25 are positioned approximately 90 degrees with respect to the main central section and the telescope jacks 55 are adjusted to level the trailer. --The floor 57 .is unfolded with the rollers 93 following the track 91. In .the event the rotating beams 21 are not properly positioned, .the jacks 55 are adjusted accordingly; T-he extensible roof is unfolded by the aid ofthe roller assembly 8t) and is secured in the unfolded position by a conventional latch (not shown). The outer wall assembly 65 is unfolded to aposition substantially as seen in Figure 2 of .the drawings. The walls maybe secured or locked in the expanded position by a conventional latch or lock (not shown). i

If desired, the extended sections maybe provided with a number of partitions 58 which are hinged (not shown) [at their inner margins to the main body" 'sectionand are hinged at their outer marginaledge's at .to the outer wall 65. In order to collapse the partitions, they are hinged at 62 so that they may be foldediin a parallel relationship alongside the permanent body portion the trailer.

In order to collapse the expansible sections of the trailer when it is desired'to be transported, the above steps are merely reversed. The'end w s1ls'67 are hinged at 75 so that they may be convenientlyffolded against the mainbody portion. i When the expansible sections of the building are in the collapsed or .folded condition, the deaf-scen s 57 constitutes the exterior side wall of fthe trailer and the parallel relationship with respect to the main ghaaypainosi Also disposed in substantially parallel relationsbip fwhenth'e parts are in folded condition, are the members 21.

A modified form of the'trailei' is illu atedin'Figures 3, 5, 9 and whereinthe eiitensible sections" may be doubled in size to provid'e'a floor area of a pproriiniately four times the central area. The primary difference in the modified-structure is the provision of collapsible U shap'e'd franie fmembers 101 being hinged at 103so that they maybe folded into the recesses 13. The roof and floor'are 'at 105 and 107 respectively so that theymay be convenientlyfolded against the side of the trailer as illustrated in-Figure '3. meme: end walls 67 are hinged at l llliso they may be folded against the side wall offthe traileras illustrated in Figure 4. The floor is provided witha k 100 similar the track 91 for receiving a roller similar to the roller assembly 93 which mounted on the lower ne edge 1 h a w nt w r and operation of the trailer is identical or the trailer illustrated in Figure 2.

Obviously many modifications and .yariations of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, but only such limitations should be impose dns indicated in the appended claims. 4

I claim:

1-1. A trailer comprising, in combination, .a central body section, an extensible side section including a number of rotating frame members comprising a beam, stud and sill pivotally connected to said body section, an expansible fioor section connected along one of its longitudinal edges to said body section, a first track mounted on the upper face of the sil1,'. a first r oller assembly for said first track mounted at each end of the other longitudinal edge of saidilo orsecfion, expansible roof section connected along one of its longitudinal edges to said body sectioiifs'aidbeam having a portion serving as a second trregsseeend roller assembly for said "second track mounted at each end of the other longitudinal edge of said roof section; an extensible wall including end sections and a side section, said end sections being pivotally connected at one end to said body section and with the side section at the other end, a third track mounted adjacent eaeh'.-end of the dl'oor section and a third roller assemblydor said thirdit'rack mounted at each end of said side section. 1 i

2. The combination of claim -1 wherein said frame members are'fu shapedand are foldable into parallel .rela tions'hip witl 1respect the central body section.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein each of said sections are foldable into substantially parallel relationship with respect to -the central :body section.

'4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the central body section forms a permanentcentral living area, and said members and sections are adapted to provide an additional living area .to said central area.

5."The combination iofc'laim 4 wherein the central body section is provided with compartments for receiving .thesections'and members when they are folded. 6. 'A .trl'ailei lconiprising, in combination, a permanently constructed central section, a foldable floor scenes}; foldabl'e' Iroof :sectionj-a' rename outer wall section, a number of foldable U-shaped frame members, horizontal extending tramw mounted on said members, and rolling" nieaii sinzounted'on said sections for engagement with said "itraclcivays "an folding movements of "said sections.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said frame membersare adapted to support said sections to provide additional areaitb permanently constructed central section.

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